MSU's Grady Kelly on Becoming a Dad, Upcoming Senior Night

Kelly's son was born the morning of the Indiana game, and his college football career is drawing to a close.

Michigan State defensive tackle Grady Kelly speaks to the media on Nov. 12, 2025, ahead of an upcoming game against Penn State. | Jacob Cotsonika, Michigan State Spartans on SI

EAST LANSING, Mich. --- On the morning of Michigan State's game against Indiana on Oct. 18, Spartan defensive tackle Grady Kelly and his wife Eliana welcomed their first child, Shiloh, into the world.

Grady Kelly met his wife while he was at Colorado State, where he was for three years. After stopping at Florida State last season, Kelly is nearing the end of his final season of college football at MSU.

Michigan State's Grady Kelly, right, pressures Western Michigan's Brady Jones, left, during the fourth quarter on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

On Wednesday, Kelly opened up about his experience as a new dad and his five-year journey playing college football.

A full video of Kelly's press conference can be viewed below.

Watch Grady Kelly here:

Additionally, a partial transcript of what Kelly said has been provided. This is only a small part of everything, though, so watching the video is recommended.

Transcript

Michigan State's Grady Kelly, right, holds onto Youngstown State's Tahir Mills while making the tackle during the third quarter on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. | Nick King/Lansing State Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Q: How's everything been going on that respect [with the baby]?

KELLY: It's good, it's been like a huge adjustment. I'm sure if you guys are parents, you remember. It's been a huge adjustment, but it's been so special and I get to do it with my best friend. Just makes it all the more special.

But yeah, definitely like learning new stuff every day, figuring it out, and stuff. But it's been probably the most special thing I've ever done in my life.

Q: Can you walk us through, like, the timeline where you know, going to Nebraska or not, or is that all that worked out?

KELLY: Yeah, so her due date was actually supposed to be the game against the school down the road [Michigan].

But we went into the doctor and she had high blood pressure and some other symptoms and they said she was like pre-eclamptic and stuff.

So they told her, they wanted to do it right now, but we went through the night, see if her symptoms kind of got better and it didn't end up getting better. So they said, she probably has to be induced tonight.

So we induced her, or they induced her like right away. And then we were praying that it would come quick enough for me to get to go back down to Indiana. But it came like pretty late that morning, 9:02 that morning.

Sep 20, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Michigan State Spartans wide receiver Omari Kelly (1) runs the ball against Michigan State Spartans edge David Santiago (41) defensive lineman Grady Kelly (16) and defensive back Nikai Martinez (1) during the first half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images | Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Q: So it was that Saturday morning, 9:02?

KELLY: Right, and we had made arrangements and plans for me to like drive down and everything, the whole nine. So we were like, maybe it'll come early enough, but it didn't end up [being that way].

Michigan State DL Grady Kelly talks to the media on Oct. 1, 2025 ahead of MSU's trip to Nebraska. | Jacob Cotsonika, Michigan State Spartans on SI

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